Dave Chase (Factory Honda Tech) Passed Away

Very sad news.

Yeah, it's a little spooky with all the week-to-week traveling done.

I didn't know Dave well, but of the friends of mine who did know him, they're blown away by the loss.

RIP, Dave.

Wow, I'm in shock about this. I just saw Dave at the US Open last month. He was happy and looked great.
Terrible news, he was so helpful to us when he was at PC.

Shocker, Dave has been around the industry for years. He used to build the Baja winning KX500's for Team Green, Danny Hamel and he worked for PC before going to Honda. A great guy, very talented. RIP Dave.

Damn, thats the first I heard of it being related to H1N1. It really is a scary thought, you see how it seems like illnesses in MX/SX always seem to make it around the pits. I guess the threat would be much scarier if this were in season.

RIP Dave Chase and condolences to his loved ones.

Damn.

Dave was a great guy and a good friend and will be missed! R.I.P Dave! Godspeed

Tragic. This bug is a bad one. A friend lost his Mom in three days. Godspeed Dave.

R.I.P DC and God Speed.

Very sad..RIP

He had other complications in addition to the H1N1, but still scary as he was young and seemed completely healthy 3 weeks ago when I saw him last. He was gonna race the SRA GP last month at Glen Helen. Dave was great guy, my favorite guy to say hi to in the pits, he will be missed. I will always remember him standing in the pits with a smile on his face.

I had H1N1. and the flu itself was like a normal flu. But due to complications from having it I was home for 3 weeks. It really can get bad. Terrible to hear that it's taken another life. My best wishes go out to his friends and family.

RIP Dave, very sad to hear this.

November 14, 2009

Dave Chase
1962-2009

 Dave Chase, motorcycle racer, gifted engine builder and friend to many in the motocross racing community, passed away on November 12, 2009 after succumbing to complications from an illness.  Dave was 47 years old. 

There were many aspects to the life of Dave Chase, but perhaps the most visible side was the one related to professional motorcycle racing. Dave grew up in a motorcycling family and he became an accomplished off-road racer, competing in District 37 Hare & Hound events with significant success, and he also earned a SCORE Baja championship.

Following this active racing portion of his life, Dave took up the wrenches. He liked to say, “I was better at working on bikes than at racing them,” a nod to his more modest side. In a very short period of time as a professional mechanic, Dave achieved tremendous success, wrenching for such off-road legends Dan Smith, Scott Harden, Ty Davis and Danny Hamel, to name just a few. He then turned his focus to engine development, and from 2000 to 2005, Dave worked with the Pro Circuit race team, building some the fastest engines in the business for some of the fastest riders, including Ricky Carmichael. In December 2005, Dave joined Team Honda’s Motocross team, helping to create the CRF250R race motors that would lead to national championships for Davi Millsaps and Ashley Fiolek. And, of course, Dave built CRF450R engines for Millsaps when he stepped up to the big leagues, as well as engines for other Honda stars including Andrew Short, Ivan Tedesco and Ben Townley.

Dave always maintained an intense focus for his work, yet he was also quick to acknowledge the fun, human side of the motorcycle racing business. Dave served as a fine addition to every race team he worked with; he was always a good man to have on your side. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him.

Dave Chase is survived by his mother and step-father, Claudia and Bill Price, his father and step-mother, Richard and Wendy Chase, his grandmother Berenice Chase, his brother Frank Chase, sister Jennifer Llewellyn, sister and brother-in-law Erika and Martin Pikhart, nieces Kaila Chase, Haley and Taylor Pikhart and Rachael Llewellyn, nephews Trevor and Zackery Pikhart and Jacob Llewellyn, and his girlfriend Christy Lechner.

Information regarding a memorial service will be announced at a later date.

So sad.

One of the real Tuner-Gurus.

Very sad.

Godspeed...

Condolences to Dave Chase's entire family and friends Tragic loss..

Godspeed Dave... it was a pleasure and a honor to work with you back in 05 with Dan B. It looked like those Metalore parts worked inside that engine huh?

My thoughts and prayers go out to your family and friends

Does anyone know about the when and where for the viewing and the funeral?
I would like to go pay my respects to a great man.

Family posts today said the funeral will be posted asap. they just wanted to get the word out now and will follow up soon. Dave was a great guy and like other posts I just followed him at the nationals this year which really wasn't that long ago!! Gary Martini's going to have to get another compatriot to ride alongside him in the Honda Mule on raceday, tough spot to fill. Knew Dave for the last 20 years from offroad to mx and always was a genuine, sincere individual that always gave you as much time as you needed. My condolences to his family and girl friend. See you at the funeral!! Chas Halcomb